City Center Neighborhoods

These are the neighborhoods that surround downtown, which is a very specific area in Seattle鈥攚hat other cities might call the central business district. These neighborhoods are within walking distance of each other (sometimes up to a 30-minute walk).聽

Downtown

Downtown is roughly bounded by Pike and Pine Streets to the north, Yesler Way to the south, I-5 to the east, and Puget Sound to the west. There are some condos and apartments with a primarily commercial feel鈥攚hich means a ton of shopping, financial businesses, and shops. There鈥檚 a fair amount of nightlife and restaurants Downtown. The overall vibe here is 鈥渂usinessy鈥� and professional (or at least as businessy and professional as Seattleites get – we鈥檙e veeeeerrrrrrrrry casual here). Westlake Center and Pacific Place are downtown, the Seattle Art Museum, and the surrounding streets are shopping central, and also the city鈥檚 biggest transit hub鈥攖he monorail and the ever-expanding Link Light Rail stop here, as well as almost all the major bus lines. And the ferry! Not to mention, over the summer months there鈥檚 a water taxi connecting downtown to West Seattle. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many businesses began closing in Downtown. However, in 2022, Downtown businesses,聽 including shops and restaurants are slowly returning and recovering. Most recently, Seattle鈥檚 Waterfront Park got a major facelift, connecting Pike Place Market (Pike Place Market!) to the – you guessed it – waterfront! – with a park, pier, the Great Wheel, and the Seattle Aquarium right there!听

Notable Downtown Restaurants: The Pink Door (Pike Place Market), Lowell鈥檚 Cafe (Pike Place Market – from 鈥淪leepless in Seattle鈥�!), Pike Place Bar & Grill (Pike Place Market), Biscuit Bitch Pike Place, Beecher鈥檚 Handmade Cheese, Pike Place Chowder, Serious Pie Pizza, The Crab Pot Seafood Restaurant (waterfront), Ivar鈥檚 Fish Bar (waterfront)聽聽

Hotels: Hyatt Regency, Panama Hotel, Sheraton Grand Seattle, Four Seasons Seattle聽

Belltown

Directly north of Downtown, Belltown is bounded by Pike/Pine to the south, Denny Way to the north, 5th Avenue to the east, and Puget Sound to the west. It鈥檚 full of apartments and condos, restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The vibe is trendy, upscale, youthful, and at times, not a place to walk around alone after dark. Belltown is home to the Olympic Sculpture Park, and this area is very active on Friday and Saturday nights, but it is quieter and more relaxed during the week. Belltown centers around 1st and Bell, so if you want to be in the thick of things, look on 1st and 2nd Avenues; 3rd Avenue is a major bus route and can be a bit busy, while 4th and 5th Avenues tend to be quieter.

Notable Belltown Restaurants: Six Seven Restaurant (waterfront), Lola, Bagrat Market, Cyclops Cafe & Lounge, Top Pot Doughnut, Virginia Inn聽聽聽聽

Hotels: Edgewater Hotel, Belltown Inn, Warwick Seattle, Hotel Max, Seattle Marriott Waterfront, Moore Hotel, The Westin Seattle聽聽

Lower Queen Anne (AKA Uptown)

Just north of Belltown, Lower Queen Anne is a favorite for many 天美视频 students. Formerly known as Uptown, most of Lower Queen Anne boasts great places to eat and study. Its boundaries aren鈥檛 really well defined, but it鈥檚 approximately the areas directly north and to the west of Seattle Center, which is home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and even an ice skating rink in the winter. Climate Pledge Arena (formerly known as Key Arena) reopened in the Fall of 2021 and has already featured many headliners in its updated space: “the most progressive, responsible, and sustainable arena in the world”. Queen Anne is a very large hill, and Lower Queen Anne is the base of it on the south side. It鈥檚 about a 15-20 minute walk to downtown, or you can take the monorail from Seattle Center to Westlake Center. Lower Queen Anne is quieter than Belltown, with more parking (though not a ton) and a more family-friendly vibe, but there鈥檚 still an active nightlife scene. In warmer weather months, there鈥檚 a Thursday afternoon Farmer鈥檚 Market. Queen Anne is also home to the famous Kerry Park, one of the best views of the city.聽

Queen Anne Restaurants: Queen Anne Beer Hall, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Macrina Bakery, Byen Bakeri, Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge, Canlis (for very special occasions), How to Cook a Wolf, Grappa, Citizen Cafe

Hotels: The Maxwell Hotel, Hyatt House, MarQueen Hotel (they say this one鈥檚 haunted)聽

South Lake Union

Just to the east of Lower Queen Anne and north of Belltown, South Lake Union (SLU) is very central. For years this was primarily an industrial center, but more recently, after the arrival of Amazon and a bunch of biotech companies, it鈥檚 become quite the technology hub, with a growing nightlife and great restaurants at its center. There鈥檚 a seasonal (summer) Saturday Market in South Lake Union. There are new apartment and condo buildings here, as well as some that are still being built. There鈥檚 also the 鈥淪outh Lake Union Trolley鈥� to get you around the neighborhood. Major plus: SLU is right on Lake Union, with its swimming spots, long, beautiful jogging paths, and plenty of options for renting kayaks, paddle boards, and wooden boats. And! The seaplanes take off from Lake Union – which you can take for either scenic tours or travel! Book at Kenmore Air. Finally, don鈥檛 forget to see the famous – famous! Sleepless in Seattle-famous! houseboats on Lake Union as well.聽

South Lake Union Restaurants: Re:Public, LOCAL Public Eatery, Duke鈥檚 Seafood South Lake Union (waterfront), M Bar (rooftop), Ba Bar South Lake Union, Cactus South Lake Union, The White Swan Public House, Momiji South Lake Union

Hotels: Silver Cloud Hotel, CitizenM Seattle South Lake Union, Courtyard Seattle Downtown / Lake Union, Residence Inn Seattle Downtown Seattle / Lake Union聽

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is where Seattle was first founded. Even though it鈥檚 just south of Downtown, the two neighborhoods have very different vibes and aesthetics. Pioneer Square has a lot of beautiful old buildings that attract architecture firms, art and design studios, and other creative endeavors. Many have been converted into lofts and apartments, and some of Seattle鈥檚 best restaurateurs are opening new spots here to draw in more people. Lumen Field (home to Seahawks football, Sounders, and Seattle Reign soccer, formerly known as Century Link Field) and T-Mobile Park (home to Mariners baseball, formerly Safeco Field) are down here as well, so if you鈥檙e a sports fan you鈥檒l find a great game-day atmosphere in Pioneer Square. There鈥檚 also an Underground Seattle Tour here鈥攜ou may want to put that on your 鈥渘ew to Seattle鈥� to-do list.

Pioneer Square Restaurants: 13 Coins Seattle, Taylor鈥檚 Shellfish Oyster Bar, Il Terrazzo Carmine, Flatstick Pub聽

Hotels: Embassy Suites, Silver Cloud Hotel, CitizenM Seattle Pioneer Square

International District

The International District neighborhood (ID), with a history rooted in Asian and Asian-American culture, is a densely populated area with fantastic restaurants, groceries, and cultural events. With many businesses and transportation options including bus, light rail, and Amtrak, the ID has location, history, and opportunities. The ID is home to the Wing Luke Museum, the Uwajimaya Market, and the historic Panama Hotel and Tea House.聽

ID Restaurants: Dough Zone, Momosan, Maneki, The Boat

Hotels: Panama Hotel and Tea House, The Art Inn Seattle聽

Central District / Rainier Valley / Beacon Hill (天美视频鈥檚 Home!)

天美视频 of Theology & Psychology is in south Seattle, right at the intersection of three three neighborhoods: the CD, Rainier Valley, and Beacon Hill. The CD is home to the Wa Na Wari Black arts and community gathering space, as well as the Northwest African American Museum. Also be sure to check out two parks: Judkins – right across the street from our campus! And Pratt Park. On Beacon Hill, check out Jefferson Park and Dr. Jose Rizal Park, not to mention Seattle鈥檚 Bouldering Project – one of our city鈥檚 rock climbing gyms.聽

Notable CD/Rainier Valley/Beacon Restaurants: Temple Pasties, Jackson鈥檚 Catfish Corner, Cupcake Royale, Victrola Coffee Roasters, Milk Drunk, Bar del Corso

Just-outside-the-city-center Neighborhoods

These neighborhoods surround the ones we mentioned above. They鈥檙e all about a 10-15 minute drive from Downtown (or about $10 for a Lyft). Parking is a bit better in these neighborhoods, but not significantly so.聽

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill, east of downtown, is a large and very densely populated neighborhood that is the center of art, music, and LGBTQ+ culture in Seattle. This was the center of the whole grunge thing and is still a primary part of Seattle鈥檚 live music scene (although it now includes many genres, including great electronica and hip-hop venues, among others). The prestigious Cornish College of the Arts is also here, along with a thriving theater community. Capitol Hill has a thriving nightlife, with plenty of options for live music, bars, clubs, and restaurants, and some decent shopping. There is a year round Sunday Farmer鈥檚 Market that happens in Capitol Hill, a favorite of locals. Cap HIll is also home to Volunteer Park, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Cal Anderson Park.聽

Cap Hill Restaurants: Melrose Market, Sweet Alchemy, Skillet Diner, Ba Bar Capitol Hill, Terra Plata (rooftop), Poquitos, Smith, Oddfellows, Lost Lake

Hotels: Silver Cloud Broadway, Hotel Sorrento聽

Fremont

Just north of Lake Union, Fremont is about a 10-15 minute drive from downtown. It鈥檚 a charmingly unusual and eclectic sort of place, full of strange and quirky sculptures (like a 10-foot Vladimir Lenin, an enormous troll eating a real-life Volkswagen Beetle, and hedges trimmed to look like faces)鈥攏ot to mention the annual Summer Solstice parade of naked cyclists. It鈥檚 got some of the artistic cultural vibe of Capitol Hill, but more relaxed. The core of Fremont is smaller than that of Capitol Hill or Belltown, though it does have a selection of good restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping. This area has gentrified a lot in recent years and is now home to the Seattle offices of some big technology companies, including Adobe and Google. Check out Gas Works Park!

Fremont Restaurants: Uneeda Burger, RockCreek, The Whale Wins, Gasworks Brewing聽

Hotel: Staybridge Suites Seattle聽

Ballard

Ballard, just west of Fremont and about a 15-minute drive from downtown, has been one of Seattle鈥檚 trendiest neighborhoods for the last few years. Old Ballard is right in the middle, with brick streets, boutiques, wine bars, artisan pubs, coffee shops, yoga studios, Saturday Farmers Market, and loft apartments with a vintage/modern feel, and the western edge features incredible views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, including one of Seattle鈥檚 most popular beaches, Golden Gardens. Historically a fisherman鈥檚 town, now with a nightlife somewhere between the frenzied Capitol Hill and the laid back Fremont, Ballard鈥檚 popularity means that there are lots of options. Tour the National Nordic Museum and the Ballard Locks!听

Ballard Restaurants: Brimmer & Heeltap, The Walrus and the Carpenter, Ray鈥檚 Boathouse (waterfront), Ray鈥檚 Cafe (waterfront), Staple & Fancy, Fuego, Matador, Percy’s & Co.

Hotels: Ballard Inn, Hotel Ballard, Watertown Hotel

University District

West of Wallingford is the U-District, the neighborhood surrounding the University of Washington – home to the famous 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� library, and as a public university, you can visit! There are a lot of college bars, good restaurants, and some live music options. Even though the U-District is right in the middle of a big city, it can feel very much like any college town in America. It鈥檚 pretty affordable and a lot of fun, with all the pageantry Division I college athletics have to offer. The U-District also has a light rail station that runs from the stadium through Capitol Hill to the Downtown Westlake Center (and beyond). Also: The U-District boats a year round Saturday Farmer鈥檚 Market! See the Henry Art Gallery, the Burke Museum, and Magnuson Park. Rent kayaks or stand up paddle boards at the Waterfront Activities Center! Shop the University Village and picnic on the Village Green!听

U District Restaurants: MCozy Fusion Cafe, Ugly Mug Cafe, Saint Bread (waterfront), Joey University Village, Ba Bar University Village, Big Time Brewery & Alehouse, Cafe Solstice, Dough Zone, Mamma Melina, Shultzy鈥檚, Agua Verde Cafe (waterfront), The Mountaineering Club (rooftop), Portage Bay Cafe聽

U District Hotels: Graduate, Residence Inn, University Inn, Watertown Hotel聽

Eastlake

On the south side of the University of Washington is Eastlake. With a large neighborhood of floating homes – Hello, 鈥淪leepless in Seattle鈥�! – , as well as older, more expensive houses, the area can be fun to explore. There鈥檚 also a few hidden beaches tucked throughout, and a great restaurant and bar scene.聽

Eastlake Restaurants: Little Water Cantina (patio with water / city views), Serafina, Cicchetti, Zoo Tavern, Carrot Cafe聽

Greenlake

Greenlake, north of Fremont and Wallingford, is the neighborhood surrounding its namesake body of water. Swim Greenlake, walk Greenlake – the lake is circled by an incredible, three mile walking/running/biking path that is always packed when the sun comes out – rent paddle boats – hello, 鈥淭en Things I Hate About You鈥�! – It鈥檚 a friendly neighborhood! There鈥檚 a small but good selection of restaurants and bars (parking can be quite tricky if you live near here). Visit the Woodland Park Zoo!听

Greenlake Restaurants: Red Mill, Duke鈥檚 Seafood, Spud Fish & Chips, Bongos, Rosita鈥檚 Mexican Grill聽

A bit farther, but still Seattle neighborhoods

These neighborhoods are a bit farther out (10-30 minutes to 天美视频, depending on traffic). They have become popular with students in recent years, as they tend to be more affordable and provide easier access to large supermarkets, more accessible shopping, and even cheaper gas than what you might find in the city center neighborhoods. They also tend to have ample parking (which can cost $150-250 per month if you live somewhere like Downtown). Look along the 15th Street, Highway 99/Aurora Avenue, and I-5 corridors for easy bus access.

Greenwood

Greenwood, northeast of Ballard and northwest of Greenlake, has risen from the bog of its past () to become a busy, family-friendly, affordable neighborhood. With a good selection of restaurants, bars, gelato stops, and coffee shops along Greenwood Avenue, this is one of Seattle鈥檚 up-and-coming walkable neighborhoods. The Interurban Bike Trail runs north from Greenwood, and there are plenty of bike-friendly streets here.聽

Greenwood Restaurants: El Chupacabra, Miss Pho, Halcyon Brewing, Alibi Room聽

Northgate/Pinehurst/Lake City

Another up-and-coming area of Seattle, these neighborhoods include two designated 鈥渦rban villages鈥濃�攁reas that are walkable with restaurants and nightlife options, as well as convenient transportation. Visit Northgate鈥檚 Northgate Station for shopping and dining, there鈥檚 also a movie theater, and, most fun: the Kraken Community Iceplex for community open skating sessions. These neighborhoods are also fairly close to Lake Washington and the Burke Gilman trail, a popular bike trail that runs along Lake Washington and joins up with the Sammamish River trail farther north.

Restaurants: Elliott Bay Brewing, The Shambles, Pagliacci Pizza, Magnuson Cafe & Brewery聽

Hotels: Hampton Inn & Suites Northgate, Residence Inn Seattle Northgate, Hotel Nexus, Courtyard Seattle Northgate

West Seattle

Located across Elliot Bay from Downtown, West Seattle is home to Seattle鈥檚 most popular beach, Alki – check out Alki Kayak Tours – and it definitely feels like a beach town. It鈥檚 really laid back and chill, even a bit reminiscent of California. There鈥檚 also a cool central area with some solid restaurants, a great little movie theater, a fantastic record store and a year round Sunday Farmers Market. The trouble with West Seattle is it鈥檚 kind of a pain to get downtown from there鈥攑robably a 30-minute drive, through an area where traffic is often quite congested. During the nicer months, there鈥檚 a water taxi that, even if it doesn鈥檛 save you much time, offers one of the most beautiful commutes in town. Also, Lincoln Park is gorgeous, and hides one of Seattle鈥檚 only public outdoor pools.聽

West Seattle Restaurants: Salty鈥檚 on Alki Beach (waterfront), Marination Ma Kai (waterfront), Harry鈥檚 Beach House, Cactus Alki Beach, Il Nido, Elliott Bay Brewing, Ma鈥檕no West Seattle, Jak鈥檚 Grill, Matador West Seattle, Due Cacina, Mioposto

Hotels: The Grove West Seattle Inn聽聽聽

Georgetown

Georgetown, south of SODO and east of South Park, is a fascinating combo of an industrial zone and a trendy neighborhood that offers some vintage shopping, great restaurants, and world class breweries. With its quirky culture and fun hangout spots, Georgetown reflects some of the charm that first made Seattle so unique. Visit The Museum of Flight and Oxbow Park for that famous Hat n Boots pic!听

Georgetown Restaurants: Ciudad, Fonda La Catrina, Mezzanotte, Georgetown Brewing Co., Hangar Cafe, Il Sirenito, BOPBOX, The Corson Building, Loretta鈥檚 Northwesterner聽

Hotel: Georgetown Inn聽

Columbia City

Everyone鈥檚 been buzzing about Columbia City the last few years, and it鈥檚 easy to see why: Here you鈥檒l find a cozy residential area, a vibrant business district, great restaurants, a seasonal (summer) Thursday night Farmers Market, easy access to buses and the light rail, and just a short walk to Lake Washington and the stunning Seward Park.Check out the Kubota Garden!听

Columbia City Restaurants: Bang Bang Kitchen, Stonehouse Cafe (views of Lake WA), Marination Columbia City, Tutta Bella, Taproot Cafe, Lottie鈥檚 Lounge, Milk Drunk, Black & Tan Hall, Geraldine鈥檚 Counter聽

Beyond Seattle neighborhoods

These areas lie outside of the Seattle city limits. Some students find these areas to be more inviting, either because of the cost of living, the quieter neighborhoods,聽or the chance to be part of the communities that live here. Although with these areas, it鈥檚 important to remember that the highways are often congested. A commute that takes about 30 minutes during non-peak times can easily turn into an hour or two during rush hour.

The Northside

If you head north out of Seattle along the I-5 corridor, you鈥檒l come to Greater Seattle鈥檚 northern suburbs (Shoreline, Edmonds, Kenmore, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Bothell, Woodinville, and eventually Everett). Each is its own adorable waterfront offering with shops, art scenes, various festivals, beaches, or in the cases of Edmonds and Mukilteo: ferry landings to explore surrounding island communities (Bainbridge Island, Whidbey Island, or even as far north as the San Juan Islands), for either day or weekend trips, so do venture out of the city, should you have the time, or are able to extend your residency.聽聽

Northside Honorable Mention Restaurants: The Victor Tavern (Edmonds), Ristorante Machiavelli (Edmonds), Anthony鈥檚 Homeport (Edmonds – waterfront), Arnie鈥檚 Restaurant (Edmonds – waterfront), Ivar鈥檚 (Mukilteo Landing – waterfront), Diamond Knot Brewery (Mukilteo)

The Southside

Head south on the I-5 corridor and you鈥檒l find the southern suburbs of Seattle (Burien, SeaTac, Renton, Federal Way, Puyallup, Tacoma, and eventually Olympia). These neighborhoods offer much of the same appeal as the northern suburbs, though you might also find a busier, more industrial vibe in this direction. In Olympia, visit the state capitol, or in Tacoma, the Point Defiance Zoo!听

Honorable Mention Southside Restaurants: El Gaucho Tacoma, Duke鈥檚 Seafood Tacoma, Anthony鈥檚 Homeport (Olympia), Anthony鈥檚 Hearthfire Grill (Olympia)聽

The Eastside

Beyond Lake Washington is what is locally called 鈥渢he Eastside,鈥� including the suburb cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Issaquah. A lot of Seattle鈥檚 big tech companies have offices in this area (Microsoft, Nintendo, Adobe, T-Mobile, HTC, and others), and a lot of people commute to the Eastside for work. The floating bridges between Seattle and the Eastside make up what is probably Seattle鈥檚 biggest traffic issue. So if you鈥檙e living in the city but working on the Eastside, or vice versa, it鈥檚 worth trying to find a spot that鈥檚 easily accessible to one of the two bridges, WA-520 (a toll bridge) and I-90. Seattle is working on wrapping up the light rail project to connect Seattle to eastside more seamlessly *fingers crossed* not to mention, what a beautiful lakeside train ride that will be! Bellevue features amazing shopping and dining – The Bellevue Collection – and plenty of Lake WA beach access.聽聽聽

Honorable Mention Eastside Restaurants: Joey (Bellevue), 520 Bar & Grill (Bellevue), Monsoon (Bellevue), Din Thai Fung (Bellevue)聽

The “West Side” or West Sound

Check out the cities in the Kitsap Peninsula, west of Seattle, across the body of water known as the Salish Sea. It鈥檚 a 35-minute ride to Bainbridge Island on the ferry from Downtown Seattle. A little bit further is Bremerton, and there are two ferry options: the 30-minute Kitsap passenger-only-ferry (foot or bike) or the 60-minute state-run ferry (foot, bike, or car). Once on either island, be it for a day trip or an overnight, there鈥檚 shopping, dining, festivals, beaches, hikes, and things to do galore.聽

Honorable Mention Eastside Restaurants: Bainbridge Brewing

Remember that you are moving to, or visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the country! We will be holding each of you in mind as you make your way out to the PNW, and we can鈥檛 wait to see you out here!

[Originally published April 2019, updated 2025]

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Earlier this year, two summer-term classes took 天美视频 students beyond our walls (and beyond Seattle). In Engaging Global Partnerships, Dr. Ron Ruthruff, Associate Professor of Theology & Culture, and Cheryl Goodwin, Director of Institutional Assessment & Library Services, led a group of students to Kenya, inviting them to let their assumptions, beliefs, and practices be challenged and clarified by the stories of a place and the people who serve it. That same month, spiritual director and pilgrimage guide (MA in Theology & Culture, 鈥�12) and spiritual director and retired faculty member Tom Cashman journeyed to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona to guide students through a pilgrimage grounded in the ancient Christian tradition of desert spirituality.

Engaging Global Partnerships in Kenya

鈥淲e鈥檙e taking a deep look at the history of colonialism and religion, and the relationship between a place and the people who inhabit it鈥攅specially in places of wounding. How can we enter those wounds in a way that is honoring to others鈥� stories and also helps us reimagine our shared future?鈥�
鈥揇r. Ron Ruthruff

Pilgrimage to the Sonoran Desert

鈥淒uring our time in the desert, we explored the ancient Christian tradition of desert spirituality with an emphasis on the apophatic way and the contemplative path. The word apophatic means 鈥榳ithout image,鈥� and during our time in the desert we sought to abandon our expectations and preconceived notions of God through themes such as awareness, inviting us to non-dual consciousness; surrender, inviting us toward a posture of kenosis or self-emptying; and encounter, inviting us to be present to the desert, the Divine, and ourselves with loving indifference or non-attachment. Ultimately, the fierce landscape of the desert served as teacher and guide on our journey, teaching us how to tend to and be with the sacred and fierce landscape of the soul within.鈥�
鈥揕acy Clark Ellman

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• 鈥� This website is well curated and visually oriented.聽Just put in your desired neighborhood and price range, and watch the options appear 鈥� with pictures and a map!
• 鈥� Focused on our city, Seattle Rentals does a good job of keeping your house hunting contained. They also have great info for moving out here鈥攃heck the Moving Resources box to the left.
• 鈥� A website dedicated to the many apartments available in Seattle, this resource presents available spaces broken down into neighborhoods, highlighting pricing, noise level, etc. to make the search as seamless as possible.
• 鈥� This apartment-focused site has a really helpful map view to help you see what鈥檚 available throughout the area, and all sorts of great options to filter your search.
• 鈥� Another great site that aggregates rentals with tons of nice options to filter down your search. Be sure to also use to learn more about your potential neighborhood’s commute as well.
• 鈥� Craiglist is a popularly updated rental listing in the Seattle area, and can be a very good resource as you search for a place to call home. As is the case with all posting sites, however, caution, wisdom, and safety is always recommended. It鈥檚 wise to get pictures before you see a place, even if that means emailing the contact person to ask for them. It might save you a trip, and asking for that is perfectly reasonable. If a landlord is unwilling to answer your questions before visiting a space, this may be an indication of how they would uphold their end of a lease in the future. Pay attention to what feels comfortable and reasonable and avoid deposits before feeling very confident about a place!

Tips and Tricks for the search:

1. Timing – Most rentals get picked up fast, especially in the summer, so landlords often post their vacancies three weeks to a month out. As such, it’s not unreasonable to start looking a month prior to your timeline. Also because properties go fast, you need to have your ducks in a row before you see a place. Go ahead and decide who your references will be and start estimating your monthly income. That way you鈥檒l be able to fill out the paperwork quickly.
2. Avoiding the dreaded inept landlord – Trust your gut on this one, folks. If you don鈥檛 receive prompt communication, take note. If they answer your questions with vague or confusing language, pay attention to that, too. Seattle is a huge rental market, and if landlords know they have a great place on their hands, they may think they can get away with less than stellar follow-through. It’s also a great idea to familiarize yourself with your rights as a tenant, which actually go further in Seattle than in many cities. The Tenants Union of Washington State’s is an incredible resource on this.
3. Utilities – Rental properties in Seattle sometimes include water, sewer, and garbage (WSG) in their prices. Always ask what鈥檚 covered under that monthly check you鈥檒l be writing. In some cases, you may only have to pay separately for electric and internet. (And with all the coffee shops that have wi-fi around town, many people opt out of having internet service at home.) If water isn鈥檛 included in the rent (this is rare!), know that water service in Seattle tends to be pricey, so you鈥檒l want to budget accordingly.
4. Keeping your place warm in the winter while keeping cash in your wallet– Many houses in Seattle are older, and therefore drafty with poor insulation. You have a few options for how to deal with this. Keeping doors closed to rooms that aren鈥檛 occupied helps a lot. Avoid places that use oil heat if possible鈥攊t can be expensive and high maintenance. Also, there is a you can buy that is used to seal off your windows during the winter. It goes on the inside, so it鈥檚 a bit unsightly, but it may save you a bundle on your heating bills. Ask the lovely people at Home Depot for help; they’ll get you sorted out. Supplementing central heat with small space heaters in your individual rooms (which can be turned off and on as needed) can be a money saver too.

Settling In

• Check out or 聽if you need design inspiration for a new layout.
• If you鈥檙e a fan of yard sale furniture hunting, you鈥檙e gonna love summer in Seattle. A lot of yard sale ads get put on Craigslist, and many Seattle neighborhoods have their own websites with community news (including yard sale listings). Otherwise, just follow the handwritten signs! Seattle has a plethora of neighborhood markets as well. The is chock-full of unique (and affordable) furniture finds.
• You can get a feel for the day-to-day life and personality of some Seattle neighborhoods by reading neighborhood blogs. For starters, peruse , , , , and .

Commuting

• Seattle is fairly easy to navigate by bus, which will save you lots of cash on parking. King County鈥檚 online is a great resource for looking up bus schedules and ordering an ORCA card to load with money (the easiest way to have the exact change for bus fares). Google Maps is also a fantastic way to plan a trip by bus or Light Rail. Lastly, is an amazing free app for bus travelers. Once you download it you won鈥檛 remember how you survived without it!
• See how walkable your neighborhood will be with .
• Traffic patterns: I-5 is a pain except for really early in the morning and after 8:00pm. Aurora Avenue (also known as 99) is usually smooth sailing from about 9:30am-4:00pm, but during rush hour, prepare to sit. There also tends to be a good bit of construction in many parts of the city, so keep an eye out for closures that might affect your commute.

Other than rush hour, traffic in Seattle doesn鈥檛 get too congested in comparison to other large cities, and there are lots of great shortcuts. A few things you will experience pretty quickly though:

• In parts of the city, the roads run parallel to the water. In other parts, it鈥檚 a standard grid. That means there are places where the two road systems intersect quite confusingly. Just do your best. You鈥檒l learn the quirks eventually.
• Seattle drivers do not have great merging skills. This is partially because of the short merge lanes on many of the highways, so just be careful out there, people!
• If you are finding the traffic a bit disconcerting, just remember: This is why the bus is so great! Sometimes you can even do readings for class on your way in, and you won鈥檛 have to pay for parking. Save the earth, save your blood pressure, save your cash. A win all around.
• If you like mixing exercise and commuting, you can also bike! Seattle is a very bike-friendly city. (And if you really want to work up a sweat, you can take advantage of the showers on the 4th floor!) Check out bikeability rates and bike routes on .

To everyone relocating to Seattle to be a part of the 2019 Cohort, welcome! May it become a home away from home.

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We鈥檙e reminded of the power of place every year when we host 鈥攁 gathering of hundreds of leaders and practitioners from around the world, grounded in the conviction that the nature of our service should be shaped not only by our individual identities and callings, but by the very particular stories of the places we serve. Dr. Dwight Friesen, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, is one of the organizers of Inhabit, and he helps equip 天美视频 students to explore the intersections between their stories, the story of God, and the story of the places they inhabit.

鈥淧art of my work here at 天美视频 is to attend to what it means to be located. We are not just souls, and we鈥檙e not just bodied souls. Our bodies are actually placed somewhere,鈥� says Dr. Friesen. 鈥淚n fact, I would say that one of the greatest teachers God gives us is the place where we are, the ecosystem that gives us life and invites us to attend to what our presence looks like, what our footprint is in the everyday stuff of life.鈥�

鈥淥ne of the greatest teachers God gives us is the place where we are.鈥�

The intersection of those threads鈥攜our story, God鈥檚 story, the story of your place鈥攊s where transformative relationships happen, and it鈥檚 where we are most able to step into the sort of wise, creative, and hospitable service that our world so desperately needs.

鈥淲hen we hide behind doctrine or ideology or even an 鈥榠ssue,鈥� it allows us to become almost adversarial toward those who do not hold the same view. When you stay located in place, however, all of a sudden those issues are not issues. Those issues are actually people, people with names who you are encountering. It takes it out of abstraction and into relationship. That鈥檚 what we try to do here at 天美视频.鈥�

We鈥檒l be diving into this April 26-27 at the Inhabit Conference, two days of inspired teaching, energizing stories, and thought-provoking workshops.

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I鈥檝e never enjoyed gardening.

The thought of tending a plot of land is rife with childhood memories of aching knees and fingers, straining to feel the pull of the weed鈥檚 roots instead of the snap of the stem. As an adult, traveling in Poland, I signed up to stay at a purported organic farm, part of the WWOOF network (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) where travelers exchange labor for room and board. Instead, I lodged at a rustic Airbnb with a few modest garden plots and painted bedrooms for four days straight. I stayed dry from the drizzling rain, sure, but I also stayed ignorant of how to garden. My hosts鈥� English was limited, and upon learning that I actually wanted to learn about plants, the patriarch of the home took me on a walking tour of the garden plots, politely pointing out various plants and saying their Polish names, all the while sipping on some home-brewed liquor, and then asked me, at the end, to repeat everything he had just said. Frustrated when I couldn鈥檛, he drove me to an agricultural museum on the outskirts of their village. While I enjoyed looking at rustic farm implements and dodging roaming turkeys, I still learned little about what to do, or how to feed myself from the earth. I left two days later, as my host鈥檚 drinking started earlier and earlier, and my reluctance to work any more reached its zenith. My desire to garden remained in Poland, dashed on the rusty implements of that agricultural museum.

But my thoughts about gardening have started to change as I鈥檓 learning there鈥檚 a lot more to it than growing food. Taking Triune God and Creation, a class on ecotheology from an ecofeminist perspective, in my last term at 天美视频, I鈥檝e been forced to confront my human-centric view of the world (anthropocentrism) and acknowledge the looming global catastrophes, warming oceans, shrinking glaciers, dying species, super storms, toxic pollution, humanitarian crises related to economic inequality, and the list goes on (all in my last term!). Ecofeminist thought stresses the contextual significance of each individual and the way that knowledge is informed principally by one鈥檚 experience, and scholars stress the interdependence of all life and the necessity of acting in right relationship with all of the natural world. Ecofeminists argue that exploitation of the land is inseparable from exploitation of people and that if there is going to be justice it needs to be for all. And I鈥檝e started to learn about these principles through one particular garden, the S.L.U.G.

St. Luke鈥檚 Urban Garden (S.L.U.G.) is adjacent to my residence鈥攖wo shotgun-style cottages on the property of in the Ballard neighborhood. The cottages have been my home for two years, and in that time I鈥檝e seen the comings and goings of local gardeners, some church parishioners, and other folks with a green thumb and a desire to grow their own food. I live on the property as a part of the Relatio program, a partnership between 天美视频 and St. Luke鈥檚. Produce from the SLUG is shared with the church鈥檚 meals ministry, Edible Hope, and the space is also a hangout spot for local residents and neighbors, both housed and unhoused. Along with the SLUG, St. Luke鈥檚 has an apiary on its roof and the largest rain garden in North Seattle, and lives out its ecumencial beliefs by renting space to The Bridge, a ministry of Quest Church, and the historic chapel to Pangea, a Brethren in Christ Church in the U.S.

Gardening sustains the community and brings people together in ways that are oriented to work and to social activities. It is both a concrete reality, supplying food, and a metaphor for a way of living that aims at a just, viable relationship with the earth and the surrounding community. Ecofeminist Sally McFague writes about metaphor as a bridge between knowing that is both symbolic and embodied. In this way, being a part of Relatio has helped me realize that the community I鈥檓 living in is living out the values and the ways of being that are needed to address the catastrophes at hand. Not only is the land and the earth respected, people are welcomed in and loved, regardless of their social status, gender, race, or sexual orientation. At St. Luke鈥檚 all bodies are considered good, and the way this is communicated is through the act of feeding, body and soul. As a part of my resident project I鈥檒l be hosting an art show featuring 天美视频 artists, an act that further feeds the soul.

鈥淎t St. Luke鈥檚 all bodies are considered good, and the way this is communicated is through the act of feeding, body and soul.鈥�

I鈥檓 still not at a place where I want to sink my hands in the dirt, plant seeds, wrestle with the hellish expanse of weeds. But I am more mindful, and grateful, for the opportunity to live in a community that is supportive of life, rejects hate, and actively works against oppression. Gardens are a space where life grows and where abundance can flourish in a way that acknowledges the interdependence of the biosphere on a local, personal level. This is a flourishing that isn鈥檛 at the expense of the other. And this flourishing is indeed more, an abundance that is personal, communal, and spiritual鈥攊n short, an embrace of the desire for more that is often directed to material aims. I think of the garden when I read the words of queer ecotheologian Whitney Bauman who writes, 鈥淲e ought not deny our desire for more, but channel those desires into using wealth to create a more ecologically viable and just world.鈥�¹

¹Bauman, Whitney A. 鈥淨ueer Values for a Queer Climate: Developing a Versatile Planetary Ethic.鈥� In Meaningful Flesh: Reflections on Religion and Nature for a Queer Planet, edited by Whitney A. Bauman, 103-123. Earth, Milky Way: Punctum Books, 2018.

We are currently accepting applications for Relatio.聽If you are interested in moving in at any point in the 2019-20 Academic Year, contact program director Kate Davis, kdavis@theseattleschool.edu.

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To that end, later this month five students will travel to Kenya for the fourth annual Engaging Global Partnerships class with Dr. Ron Ruthruff, Associate Professor of Theology & Culture, and Cheryl Goodwin, Director of Institutional Assessment & Library Services. The vision for this class grew out of Ron鈥檚 involvement with the Center for Transforming Mission and , an international network of leaders who facilitate grassroots education and training in the particular context of local communities. In his work around the world, Ron always dreamed about being able to invite students in the United States to come meet the 鈥渆ntrepreneurial theologians鈥� he was meeting and partnering with. Now, as a faculty member at 天美视频 and a Senior Fellow with Street Psalms, Ron鈥檚 continued relationships with pastors, theologians, activists, and social entrepreneurs around the world have helped him develop courses that are far more global and far more of a lived experience than what is typically offered in higher education, which often trends toward self-contained intellectualism rather than practical, engaged learning.

In the Engaging Global Partnerships class, students are invited to let their assumptions, beliefs, and practices be challenged and clarified by the stories of a place and the people who serve it. Beginning in 2016, Ron has traveled with students to learn from his friends in Guatemala. This is the first year that the class will be traveling to Kenya. In the months leading up to the class, the students have been wrestling with readings and discussions to help deepen and contextualize their time together. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taking a deep look at the history of colonialism and religion, and the relationship between a place and the people who inhabit it鈥攅specially in places of wounding,鈥� says Dr. Ruthruff. 鈥淗ow can we enter those wounds in a way that is honoring to others鈥� stories and also helps us reimagine our shared future?鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e taking a deep look at the history of colonialism and religion, and the relationship between a place and the people who inhabit it鈥攅specially in places of wounding.鈥�

By asking these questions and witnessing the 鈥渉eart, hurt, and hope鈥� of a particular place, students are challenged to reconsider categories including partnership, service, culture, incarnation, and mission鈥攁n essential part of discerning what their own calling might look like in their local context. As he guides students in that process, Ron is inspired by David Bosch鈥檚 work in and Martin K盲hler鈥檚 assertion that 鈥渕ission is the mother of theology.鈥� It鈥檚 not the other way around, says Ron: 鈥淭heology emerges as we listen to others.鈥�

Of course, if you hear about a group of American students traveling internationally and talking about mission, you might already have certain assumptions or images in mind. That鈥檚 why Ron is quick to clarify that, 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a mission trip, it鈥檚 a vision trip. There won鈥檛 be any air-conditioned buses, and we won鈥檛 be digging a hole in a community that some youth group has to come fill in three months later. This isn鈥檛 about us bringing our program overseas or placing our visions on others. I hope it鈥檚 about learning to listen well, engage with our shared history, and dream together about a vision for something new.鈥�

Photo by Jesse Smith of .

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Craig: 鈥淲e have the ability to export our education and training in very robust ways. So this isn鈥檛 a small thing, it鈥檚 actually a very significant thing. We鈥檙e trying to be very deep and very personal, at a time when the needs are growing nationally, internationally鈥攖he hunger for peace, the hunger for wholeness, the hunger for healing is off the charts.鈥�

Craig shares about his motivation to understand not just 天美视频 and the people in this building, but also our neighborhood and surrounding city鈥攖he broader context in which our mission unfolds. He has spent a lot of time out and about going to concerts, museums, lunches, 鈥渢rying to catch the flavor, the taste of what鈥檚 going on.鈥�

Craig: 鈥淲e鈥檙e living in an accelerated age in Seattle. The city itself has grown faster and more than any other city over the last decade in the United States. That creates profound possibilities and profound anxieties. […] Finding home in all that, finding space鈥攊t鈥檚 tricky. It鈥檚 not easy, it鈥檚 not quick.鈥�

Derek shares how Craig has brought with him new ways of thinking about the future that are 鈥渂oth disruptive and promising.鈥� It鈥檚 a profound time for those new perspectives, as 天美视频 is approaching its 21st birthday鈥攁 milestone of identity and maturation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fascinating to arrive as 天美视频 is graduating a class in their 20th year here and turning toward the 21st year,鈥� says Craig. 鈥淢ost schools would celebrate their 20th anniversary, but we鈥檙e not most schools. I think we鈥檙e maybe more interested in celebrating the 21st, because it鈥檚 closer to a human rite of passage, moving toward adulthood.鈥�

鈥淚 hope in the 21st year, in looking back, we can look at hard things, and we can look at beautiful things, and we can dance together again.鈥�

In the midst of all the change, Derek and Craig also reflect on that which remains true about 天美视频鈥檚 ethos: the annual and seasonal rhythms, the weekly communion, the nine.noon.three bells that chime every three hours as an invitation to re-orient and re-settle. These core shared values鈥攑art of what Derek calls 鈥渁daptive resilience鈥濃�攁re what ground us, personally and collectively, as we respond to change and dream about the future.

Derek: 鈥淵ou need that looking back to look forward, to recognize in some sense the continuity of us. […] We鈥檙e a very hopeful institution, and I think we are coming into this notion of what we are called to be.鈥�

Craig: 鈥淲e reorient ourselves, at a time of massive confusion, to say 鈥榯hese things we know to be true.鈥� […] Can we lean into that ongoing hope that does not change, at a time when, on any given day, we all feel like we may be about to get swamped? […] Let鈥檚 learn from where we鈥檝e been, learn from mistakes we made, acknowledge aches, pains, growing pains, hunger, guilt, longing鈥攁nd yet here we are, ready to continue.鈥�

As always, thank you for listening to text.soul.culture. You can catch up on every episode from our first two seasons here, and we鈥檒l see you in the fall as we continue the conversation.

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In what ways has your story impacted, shaped, or inspired your vocation?
I have been on a long journey led by the deep desire to integrate two primary stories that formed the foundational elements of my life. I grew up in a home with an evangelical, charismatic Christian mother and an atheist, amateur astronomer, mountaineering father. Together they found their mutual love in the mountains, but parsed out the practice of this love through separation, having us switch off our connection to the Holy through attending pentecostal churches every other week with my Mom, and going hiking in the Northern Cascades with my Dad on the off weeks. I got completely different understandings of my self and the natural world from these divergent contexts. One told me of my inherently sinful and degraded nature, while the other affirmed the dignity of diversity and the more-than-human world. One story honed in on depravity and a transcendent God, while the other whispered to me of goodness and a sacred, wild world. This dichotomy was a shame-filled struggle for me, and it wasn鈥檛 until I was introduced to the Celtic Christian spirituality stream over 20 years ago that I felt like I found a path that would honor both the wisdom of my faith tradition and an inherent understanding of our place of belonging within a very good and inspirited creation.

The great cultural historian and ecotheologian Thomas Berry once said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 all a question of story.鈥� What are the stories we tell, and how do they contribute (or not) to a flourishing future for all on our planet? I had been told two stories growing up, and my work has been, both personally and vocationally, about reconciling the two, and seeking after the deep wisdom that often lives in wild edges of the dominant storyline. As an urban naturalist I have worked for over a decade on restoring an urban forest, bringing it back into a state of flourishing, ecological wholeness. In conservation circles, this is called 鈥渞ewilding.鈥� My work as the proprietor of Waymarkers, a small business that offers local retreats and pilgrimage journeys, is to apply this idea of rewilding to our soulscapes, our inner landscapes that have suffered from traditional stories of separation. I see rewilding as a process of remembering: remembering that we carry wildness within; remembering that we are related to other plants and animals who inhabit Earth with us; remembering that we are on a common journey upon our common home with the whole of creation. When we rewild our stories, our souls are brought back into wholeness and communion with the natural world.

鈥淲hen we rewild our stories, our souls are brought back into wholeness and communion with the natural world.鈥�

How has your work been informed by your education at 天美视频?
天美视频 provided the rigor and relationships to hone my intuitive sense of an existing sacred ecology. While I had years of experience and practice in the categories of urban forestry, place-making, and pilgrimage-taking, I lacked theological grounding and trained theory. I needed to come to a place that would hold my emerging hermeneutic, hold iron to my intuitions, and inspire regenerative ways of leaning into the mystery we call God. The faculty and staff were extremely supportive in allowing me to self-create my focus within the field of ecotheology. In many ways this opportunity to create my core learnings at 天美视频 reinforced and elevated my experience as I was able to draw from other programs from across the nation and bring them into my readings, learnings, and self-designed coursework. Through this creative framework, I was supported to go deep into transformative theories that ultimately inspired my integrative project, which offered a new model of understanding our roles of being image bearers of God. This new understanding of the imago Dei is now foundational to my work, writing, and speaking through Waymarkers, and is a project that I am continuing to work on with the hopes of publishing it as a book.

What vocational rhythms or practices have you implemented?
The primary practice that I鈥檓 working with right now comes through this idea of rewilding the image of God, which hinges on the understanding that the personhood of humanity, the Sacred, and the natural world are all in a holistic, inter-animating relationship. This foundational Trinitarian lens affirms the personhood of Living Earth and the more-than-human world. To practice this theory, I have developed the Rewilding Wheel.

The Rewilding Wheel is a sacred circuit that seeks to locate the wisdom of universal nature symbols with one鈥檚 particular homescape and spiritual formation. By locating the psychospiritual patterns found within the natural world to a particular place, the ancient wisdom inherent in the cardinal directions and elements takes on a practical shape and invites a focused seasonal practice. In this way, the Rewilding Wheel is unique as it invites a sacred process of remembering and recovering relationships within various ecosystems throughout your bioregion.

A bioregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area rather than one dictated by human-made divisions. Moreover, the poet and environmental activist Gary Snyder would say that a bioregion is the 鈥渟pirit of a place.鈥� This is how God shows up within the particularities of a place and offers inspiration and understanding toward living whole-ly and holy. A soulful bioregional attunement moves us from an ego-centric posture on the planet to an eco-centric one where one鈥檚 whole identity is rooted and interconnected with all of creation.

One is invited into the practices of the Rewilding Wheel through my quarterly Rewilding Retreats which are offered at the numinous grounds of the Whidbey Institute. You are all personally invited to come and rewild yourself, your worship, and your wonder at an upcoming retreat!

What inspires you or gives you hope?
Truly, and now more than ever, I gain my hope from the amazing and regenerative systems of the natural world, which are simply and sophistically repeating the cosmic patterns of the Paschal Mystery and the Christ. Within our Sacred Story is a profound Reality that can be experienced when one finds their place of belonging here, on our sacred and animated planet.

In , David Abram tells us that 鈥渨e are situated in the land in much the same way that characters are situated in a story鈥long with the other animals, plants, stones, trees, and the clouds, we ourselves are characters within a huge story that is visibly unfolding all around us, participants within the vast imagination, or Dreaming, of the world.鈥� Within the wild world exists something of God that we are missing entirely if we focus simply on our human lives. German theologian and mystic, Meister Eckhart (1260-1327) said something of the same: 鈥淚f humankind could have known God without the world, God would never have created the world.鈥� Creation is not a mere scenic backdrop so humans can take over the stage. Creation is in fact a full participant in human transformation, since the outer world is absolutely needed to mirror the true inner world. There are not just two sacraments, or even seven; the whole world is a sacrament! I am inspired by prophetic healers, voices calling us to our collective, numinous relationship with nature. The land models mutuality and sustainability, but to come to know these values, one must be in renewed communication with other species鈥攁n occurrence inherent to being in the natural world.

About
The name Waymarkers comes from the themes of the exilic journey in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, a journey that guides Israel back to her city, to her homeland. In Jeremiah 31:21 there is a command to set up way marks, collected items from the natural world believed to likely be heaps of stones, or pole-like trees, put upon the path to guide the traveler through wild and spacious landscapes. Here there is a sense that the natural world is coming alongside the traveller to provide guidance, wisdom, and a sense of direction toward a place of belonging.

There is still a deep longing in our Western culture to wander toward wild places and to have this wayfaring lead to deep meaning, renewed ways of seeing, and back to our own sense of grounded belonging to this Earth and the communities in which we live. Where are the markers within creation that mark your path? Can you discern that features within the natural world that are set up to guide your way? Waymarkers exists to provide accompaniment along your personal path of spiritual formation so to receive guidance from your particular places, cultivating a sacred perception of the soul and wild nature.

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Dwight shares about how he first came to 天美视频 and discovered a deep alignment between the mission of this institution and his own personal calling. As he reflects on what he dreams about personally and collectively, he reflects on the parish theology that compels his ministry, teaching, and writing.

Dwight: 鈥淥n a personal level, I think the dream of my life is to learn what it is to love: to love others, to love God, to love myself, to love place, to love what it is to be a creature. There are a lot of things that compete for my affections other than loving relationship. To actually throw myself into the gift of love鈥攖hat, on a personal level, feels like the dare of my life.鈥�

As Derek and Dwight talk about teaching at 天美视频, they reflect on the unique challenges of education when transformation is the goal, not merely a checklist of correct answers. Dwight shares how, motivated by a relational, trinitarian theology that is grounded in the parish, he no longer sees his professorial role as primarily about imparting knowledge.

Dwight: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not a Christian endeavor. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 in the knowledge business. […] Anything that collapses into theory is just not adequate.鈥�

Derek: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e talking about something that is beyond words, that is much more holistic.鈥�

Dwight: 鈥淚 increasingly believe that I am less a professor professing truth as I am a witness, bearing witness to what is real as to what I鈥檝e known and experienced of the living God.鈥�

鈥淎nything that collapses into theory is just not adequate.鈥�

The conversation turns to local expressions of church, and Derek and Dwight talk about the complexities of living these concepts in real, messy, day-to-day life. The emotion in Dwight鈥檚 voice is clear as he speaks of his deep love for the Church and his hope that local churches will not drift into abstraction or ideology but will grow into vibrant expressions of the tangible movement of God in their communities. That鈥檚 the hope that informs Dwight鈥檚 work, whether it鈥檚 teaching in the classroom, co-facilitating the Leadership in the New Parish certificate program or the , or just walking around his neighborhood.

Dwight: 鈥淕od is doing what God does and renewing God鈥檚 people, not for the sake of the church but for the sake of the world. […] Somehow proximity dares me, woos me to figure out how do I actually live rightly with my neighbors, in such a way that it calls us both into a better way of being.鈥�

Resources to Go Deeper

Here are a few of the voices that emerged during this conversation. These texts help expand the way of listening to the triune God in the particularity of place that Dwight is so passionate about. And if you鈥檙e interested in joining with hundreds of others who are passionate about the place-based theology and practice Dwight discusses here, we hope you鈥檒l join us for the Inhabit, April 27-28 in Seattle.

• by Esther Lightcap Meek
• by Colin E. Gunton
• by Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, and Dwight Friesen

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